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If you want to pass an exam, you have to study. You have to study real hard and put real effort into it if you want to graduate from school. If you want to have better chances at getting a good job and making a decent income, you have to graduate. If there’s anything in life that you want to hold on to and succeed at, you’ve got to do the work. It’s not going to just happen. When you manage to have something but you don’t look after it properly, you’re going to end up losing it, eventually. And when you feel like you’re ready to try and give it another go, it’s going to cost you more. Much more.
Just like your houses. It’s not enough to pay the mortgage every month, or secure home insurance. You have to take care of your homes to ensure that things are running smoothly so you can sleep better at night. You have the chance to save on money too, brought about by unforeseen repairs that you could’ve prevented, in the first place, like nasty mold. Read on to get more information about some of the vital home maintenance tasks that you need to do – or you can check out this company that does mold remediation Toms River and they can get the job done for you.
Check drainage on your property
Take some time to walk around your house to check that the ground hasn’t settled, creating any low points where water can collect near your foundation. It can cause some serious and expensive problems if there’s water pooling around your foundation since saturated soil freezes and thaws over the winter months. Just in case you find any, simply fill it with soil. Also, check if your rain gutter downspouts are clear and moving water out and away from your
home. If necessary, you can purchase downspout extenders to move the water further towards natural draining spots.
Keep the heat on
Even when you go out of your house, keep the heat on. This can keep your pipes warm and prevent them from freezing. It also saves you money because your heating system doesn’t have to work extra hard in bringing the house back up to room temperature when you return. You can consider updating your thermostat to a programmable version, so you can automatically set one temperature for when you’re in, and another temperature for when you’re out.
Check outlets and power cords
One of the leading causes of fires in homes is electrical appliances, and this could be easily prevented. All you need to do is inspect your cords, power outlets, and surge protectors. Pay extra attention to where they have to bend and make sure that the cords are not frayed. Also, check if there are any burn marks around your outlets and look closely at them and your surge protectors, listening for any zips or zaps. If any of them do, replace them quickly. To save money, make it a habit to unplug any electrical devices that you don’t regularly use that may still be leaching electricity.
Caulk, paint, and seal exterior wood
Your exterior trim (especially trim around doors and windows) is susceptible to winter weathering and can be very vulnerable to rot and deterioration. Avoid an expensive fix by making sure that the exposed wood has been treated with correct weatherproof supplies. Identify areas where the paint is chipped or flaking away, and you can paint it yourself. Scrape off any chipped paint first, and apply a fresh coat. The same goes with caulking, identify areas where it’s wearing off, remove damaged caulk, and apply a new coat. With all the moisture that Winter brings, you’ll be happy you did this simple task.
Gutter cleaning is crucial
It’s best to hire a professional to complete this task, but if you choose to do it yourself, remember to always be careful. Use a sturdy ladder and if possible, ask someone to hold it steady as you climb and descend. Safety first. Gutters serve to control the flow of rainwater to protect your roof, walls, foundation, and landscape. Be sure they are free from leaves, sticks, and other debris that can cause leaks to your roof or water damage to the interior and exterior of your homes.